essentially these prequels and any version of these prequels ARE sequels. if you view them you watch OT first then prequels. i'm afraid if you really absolutely feel like the surprises must be kept in the prequels it's going to get pretty convoluted. so ease down on keeping the secret identity of Vader and Yoda's physical appearance and whatever else. that's not the point here.
And the thing is, most people that would see this already know the movies inside-out. The only way we could view it totally fresh is if we all became Lobots. ;)
Someone should pull elements from the original draft of Star Wars. There is some strong stuff there. You would have to rework it; but a lot of it could be used.
Ok, since I kicked off this whole animated prequel thing, let me throw in some of my thoughts here:
1) I agree with those who say this needs to be 100% original. Not even a wink or a nod to the Lucas prequels.
2) IMO the biggest difference you'll see in a our version VS. the Lucas one is the character of Anakin. Look at James Earl Jones' performance as Darth Vader. His Vader is drastically different from Christensen's. Jones portrays him as cool, collected, and calm. He has a very distinct way of speaking; a sophisticated manner that I don't think just a voice changing box would be capable of. Our Anakin must speak and come off in the same way. Not gentlemanly, but with a cocky chivalry. He's a brash character who has one fatal flaw: pride.
3) The first film should almost be a stand alone adventure. If Vader didn't escape, ANH could work as its own movie without any of the sequels. I think our Episode 1 should be very similar. Like all good first chapters, it serves to introduce you to the world and the characters. That's probably one of the things I dislike the most about TPM. The viewer is expected to have seen the OT in order to understand who Jedi are- they even make a joking reference to the Jedi Mind Trick without even explaining what it is! That would NOT be the case with these films.
4) Artoo and Threepio MUST be a part of this saga. Period.
5) While I certainly dislike the Lucas prequels, I don't think all of his ideas should be thrown out the window. There are plenty of story elements that can be borrowed from the Annotated Screenplays and tons of unused designs in the Art of Star Wars books, etc. that should be utilized to make this seem like it was designed back in the 1977-1983 era.
6) As far as animation style goes, I don't think CGI is very practical. However, if we can come up with base character designs, we could easy create at least a short film or trailer using Flash animation. Creating some sort of trailer should probably be the first goal, as a proof of concept. In fact, I've always envisioned this as a sort of "open source" project with lots of alternate elements floating around the internet for anyone to mashup and use. Think of how many new computer arts students are looking for a good project idea? How many of them would love to have their names on a cool, well respected fan project?
OzoneSherrif - Don't give away Vader, Yoda, or the twins. Trying to come up with ways to work within the confines of the given story is part of the fun.
If you really want to start from scratch, this is the only info that the OT gives you as a starting point (sorry if this is too wordy):
What are Jedi Knights:
For a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic, before the dark times, before the Empire. Jedi Knights must have the deepest commitment and the most serious minds. They do not crave adventure and excitement. A young Jedi named Darth Vader, a pupil of Kenobi, was seduced by the dark side of the force and helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights.
What is a lightsaber:
The lightsaber is the weapon of the Jedi Knights. It is not as clumsy of random as a blaster. It is a civilized weapon of a more civilized day.
What is the Force:
The Jedi Knights get their power from “The Force” which is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. A Jedi can feel the force flowing through him and between all living things. They must be at peace and passive and only use “The Force” for knowledge and defense. Jedi can feel disturbances in “The Force,” They can also sense each other and contact each other through “The Force” as well as see other places and times. It can also have a strong influence on the weak-minded. By the time of the original trilogy “The Force” is considered an ancient and even hokey religion with sorcerer’s ways by some and a form of well-wishing or blessing to others.
Who is Ben Kenobi:
Kenobi was trained by a Jedi Master named Yoda. He was reckless (at least in his estimation) in his youth. He served Leia’s adopted father in the Clone Wars as a general. Anakin is already a great pilot when they meet, but Kenobi is amazed at how strongly the force was with Anakin. He thought he could instruct Anakin as well as Yoda. He was wrong.
Who is Anakin:
Anakin was a Jedi Knight. His brother Owen thought he should have stayed home and not gotten involved, but he followed Obi wan on “some damn-fool idealistic crusade.” He was “the best star pilot in the galaxy, a cunning warrior and a good friend." He wants his son to someday have his lightsaber.
Who is the Emperor:
The Emperor seduces Anakin to the Dark Side. The Dark Path is not stronger, but it is quicker and easier. When you feel the force, but cannot control it, is when you are tempted. Anger, fear, hate and aggression lead to the Dark Side. The name Anakin has no meaning to Vader. The Emperor knew that if Anakin had any offspring they would be a threat to him. He ends up dissolving the entire Republic.
Who are Anakin’s children:
Luke is raised on Tatooine, the planet the farthest from the bright center of the galaxy, by his aunt and uncle. He maintains his father’s true name and does not remember his mother and for some reason finds Dagobah familiar. Leia’s adopted home, Alderaan, is a peaceful planet with no weapons. She knows she was adopted and remember just images and feelings of her real mother. She remembers her as beautiful and kind but sad.
Everything else is pretty much wide open for ideas.
It will be very good to keep those things in mind. But pretty sure that Leia says nothing about being adopted in ROTJ.
I know she doesnt actually say it, BUT Luke does ask her if she remembers her mother ... her REAL mother and she doesnt even flinch.
Anakin is already a great pilot when they meet, but Kenobi is amazed at how strongly the force was with Anakin. He thought he could instruct Anakin as well as Yoda. He was wrong.
Strange how this is actualy a better definition of Qui Gonn. Unless in Lucas mind the PT turns this line to another lie from Obi-Wan to Luke. Or he just fucked up big time once again...
Yes, but perhaps Leia just assumed he said that due to him never knowing his mother so he wanted to know what it was like to know your real mother... So she assumed that Mama Organa WAS her mother....
I really want to bang out a script on this so bad... I had some seriously fun ideas last night.
I'll try to keep this shorter than my first post.
I think there are a lot of good ideas being passed around here and I like the free exchange of ideas. It really helps get the creative juices flowing. Before anyone goes off on a scripting tangent, maybe we should try to get some concepts clarified. That way we have some common ground from wiwhich we can start.
My two biggest questions are:
1.) Who are the Jedi?
I always felt that the depiction of the Jedi in the PT had nothing in common with how they were spoken of in OT. Jedi should never be bad-a$$es. They are supposed to be calm and at peace and only use the force for knowledge and defense. Remember that Luke was an exciting Jedi, but he was always on the edge of falling to the darkside. We need to see Jedi in their prime. We should never see Obiwan swinging his lightsaber like Conan and killing a creature like in AOTC (the force is created by ALL living things...that implies sanctity of ALL life). I think one of the greatest challenges for the writers is to create and action/adventure story about characters that are NOT about action/adventure. Should they be more mysterious? Should there be a council? Considering how they are thought of in OT. Should they be discredited as well as terminated by the end of film three (similar to the Templar Knights)?
2.) What is the Clone War?
If this project is starting from scratch, than this is where we need some starting point ideas. I like the idea of the first movie being pretty much stand alone like Star Wars was. Should this movie be the impetus of the Clone Wars (like the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the sinking of the Lusitania, or Pearl Harbor)? I figure it should still be engineered by the future Emperor, but should blame be laid on the Jedi?
I know everyone has their own ideas, but if these questions are solidified BEFORE anyone starts scripting, I think it will help the group effort.
oops
WheresBlackhawk said:I'll try to keep this shorter than my first post.
I think there are a lot of good ideas being passed around here and I like the free exchange of ideas. It really helps get the creative juices flowing. Before anyone goes off on a scripting tangent, maybe we should try to get some concepts clarified. That way we have some common ground from wiwhich we can start.
My two biggest questions are:
1.) Who are the Jedi?
I always felt that the depiction of the Jedi in the PT had nothing in common with how they were spoken of in OT. Jedi should never be bad-a$$es. They are supposed to be calm and at peace and only use the force for knowledge and defense. Remember that Luke was an exciting Jedi, but he was always on the edge of falling to the darkside. We need to see Jedi in their prime. We should never see Obiwan swinging his lightsaber like Conan and killing a creature like in AOTC (the force is created by ALL living things...that implies sanctity of ALL life). I think one of the greatest challenges for the writers is to create and action/adventure story about characters that are NOT about action/adventure. Should they be more mysterious? Should there be a council? Considering how they are thought of in OT. Should they be discredited as well as terminated by the end of film three (similar to the Templar Knights)?
2.) What is the Clone War?
If this project is starting from scratch, than this is where we need some starting point ideas. I like the idea of the first movie being pretty much stand alone like Star Wars was. Should this movie be the impetus of the Clone Wars (like the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the sinking of the Lusitania, or Pearl Harbor)? I figure it should still be engineered by the future Emperor, but should blame be laid on the Jedi?
I know everyone has their own ideas, but if these questions are solidified BEFORE anyone starts scripting, I think it will help the group effort.
I think the Jedi should be spread about the galaxy and the council should only meet when something really urgent happens. I don't like the idea of the Jedi being so closely entwined with the Republic. I think they should have their own interests and form a loose alliance with the republic when they feel a disturbance in the force.
I agree wholeheartedly with Blackhawk's view on the Jedi, and I really like the idea of the Clone Wars (I still think there needs to clearly be multiple "wars," otherwise why call them the Clone WARS instead of Clone War?) parallelling the World Wars.
I think it would be a great idea for Clone War I to parallel World War I, where the future Emperor secretly sets off an ostensibly small event that snowballs into a galactic conflict that ends in a victory for the Republic. Then, Clone War II should show the Republic slowly degrading into the Empire, where they take a role similar to the Nazis in WWII. Thus, the Galactic Civil War could be a continuation of Clone War II, though that ended decisively in a victory for the Empire/Republic - the Rebellion could be remnants of the opposing force of Clone War II.
The Republic should also be fashioned similarly to the Republic of Rome, and the Emperor should (similarly to AOTC) be appointed by the Senate as an emergency leader during one of the Clone Wars. Except once he's in power, instead of being Caesar-ish, he should be more Hitler-ish, with the extermination and discreditation of the Jedi being similar to the Holocaust.
That R2 unit looks pretty spot on, and the X-Wing doesn't seem to look bad either.
Octorox, I agree that the Jedi should be more spread out, kind of like medieval knights out on quests. I think they should still be in contact with each other through the force, like Luke with Leia and Vader in ESB. Thats how I think you can keep Yoda as a presence without actually showing him. You can figure if he is such a powerful Jedi he can probably be almost one with the universe and feel all of the disturbances and guide the other Jedi to where they are needed. I think the PT Yoda was pretty lame. He was always blind to what the bad guys were up to and had difficulty lifting heavy stuff when necessary (AOTC again).
Hey ChainsawAsh nice idea. What if movie one is the END of Clone War I, kind of like ROTJ, but better? Then movie two could be a few years later and the onset of Clone War II (instigated by the Emperor of course). Finally the third movie would be the fall of the Jedi and the Rise of the Empire. Maybe it should actually end as a joyous victory for some. The emperor speaking of defeating the traitorous Jedi and how he will move the Repulic into a new age. Intercut this with some listening and knowing its not true and trooper making moves against civilians, showcasing the dark days to come.
I have a VERY basic outline perculating in the old noggin. I might post something if some more holes get filled in.
It would be cool if the Jedi temple was on Coruscant for thousands of years and Palpatine makes them move to Dantooine or somewhere to "protect Corsucant from attacks against the Jedi". Later he is able to attack the Jedi without the atrocities being so public.
maybe alderaan?
Well... here ya go:
Episode One:
Sorry to say this film still needs its major conceit. ANH was save the princess. ESB was Luke becomes a Jedi. ROTJ was save Han and defeat the Empire.
The opening crawl should set the stage for this galaxy. It’s called STAR WARS, so we might as well be in Clone War I (thanks ChainsawAsh). The crawl should explain the war but it should sound like WWI propaganda. Remember that even though this is war, it should be part of the civilized age of the Old Republic of which Obiwan told Luke. The movie then opens on a large scale battle. The sequence should end with Bail Organa needing help. He tries a transmitter which is destroyed. In desperation he calls out (prays desperately). The screen cuts to Obiwan opening his eyes. He felt the disturbance (a mission from Yoda) and begins traveling.
Obiwan meets Anakin and Owen working on a spice farm on Tatooine. Owen works the land while Anakin is involved in transportation (navigator on a spice freighter, hey why not). Through some circumstance (I said it was a basic outline), Obiwan “sees” the force flowing through Anakin (cheating at cards maybe?). He requests the brothers join him on his quest on which he can "feel his master" sending him. Obviously, Anakin does and Owen does not (vocally). During their passage into the war regions, Obiwan will witness and be saved by Anakin’s flying skills. They should become friends and trust each other with their lives. Obiwan shouldn’t be condescending and Anakin shouldn’t be a crybaby.
Obiwan should be a very by the book, in control Jedi. Anakin is reckless and when in a pinch his anger makes it worse. Anakin should be the Han Solo of this trilogy. Obiwan tries to teach him to control it, “I was like you once, but there is a better way.” Obiwan wants to take Anakin to Yoda to be trained when this is over. Anakin is impatient and pleads with Obiwan to teach him now. With his ego stroked, Obiwan decides to begin his training. The movie should culminate in the two friends learning from each other: Anakin learns to focus and Obiwan learns to be little reckless.
Whatever the major conceit of the film is, I feel it should lead to the end of Clone War I. Maybe they are given medal by a nice little senator. It should be a joyous ending like ANH.
meh...seems a little boring and by the book. I'll see if I can come up with a concept.
Well, it is just an outline. Like I said, it needs a story; an "idealistic crusade." The outline is just a few concepts and plot points I think need to be hit in an EPISODE ONE.
WheresBlackhawk said:Well, it is just an outline. Like I said, it needs a story; an "idealistic crusade." The outline is just a few concepts and plot points I think need to be hit in an EPISODE ONE.
some things I like. But I'm still adamant that Anakin shouldn't be an adult in the first movie. 15 at the oldest.
Anakins age does add some challenges to a story.
If he's too young his accomplishments come off a cheesy (see most of TPM and the rugrat pilot). In ANH Obiwan makes it sound like becoming a Jedi was Anakins choice. If he is too young is that choice really his? Will a parent really hand their child over to a complete stranger (even in a galaxy far far away)?
I really liked the idea someone stated about setting up a "bait and switch" kind of idea by making this new PT seem like its about Obiwan first. Heck, until ROTJ and PT I never thought the OT Star Wars was really about Vader....I thought it was about LUKE.
I like the ideas, and to Octorox, he's right, it just seems that way because all he described were 2 or 3 major scenes in the movie, not the story really. It still needs a glue to gel it all together. It does, obviously, still need work though - it's a great start, but the end product will probably be very little like this initial idea. That's how it always works (usually for the better).
We're starting to think in the right direction, though, and that I very much like. RE Anakin's age, I think he should be 17-19, but not 20 or older, in Episode I, mainly for the reason Blackhawk said. Honestly, though, it will work as far as Sebastian Shaw's ROTJ appearance if Obi-Wan is established as being about 10 years older than Anakin (I'd say he should be around 30-35 regardless), with about 30-40 years taking place between Episodes I and IV (longer, theoretically; Yoda could be seen as a precedent for the Force extending the life of a Jedi).
Just a quick little thought:
Do you think Tarkin should play a major role?
He was given command of the Empire's greatest weapon.
He could also order Vader about.
That must put him pretty close to the emperor.
Imagine this whole thing starting with him as a good guy too.
OR maybe on the opposing side of the conflict and the Emperor's window into controling both sides. The bad Guy in Episode 2, but surrenders and becomes and ally in Episode 3 when the tide turns against the Jedi.
hmmmmmm....
That could be interesting ... Tarkin as a "double agent" of sorts ... it's an interesting way to make him relevant without putting him in needlessly. We just have to be careful about dropping characters in to fill roles they shouldn't fill (i.e. Boba Fett).